Building a consistently winning team is no easy feat in any sport.  But Vashon’s continued success on the wrestling mat has everything to do with the commitment, experience, hard work and unconventional nature of the two head coaches.

This is the 15th year  coaching brothers Anders and Per Lars Blomgren have led the high school program. Both began their wrestling careers on the island participating in the inaugural season of the Rockbusters in 1984, coached by Kenny Barron and their father Carl Blomgren.

The youth program quickly gained a foothold and provided a steady stream of experienced wrestlers to the then-burgeoning high school team under the tutelage of Mick Guglamo.

When the Blomgrens hit the high school mat, they continued their success, both becoming state champions, and receiving honorable mention All-American nods. Anders, the elder by two years, graduated form Vashon High in 1993 and Per Lars in 1995. Continuing to wrestle in college, they attended Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. Both were All-American collegiate wrestlers with Per Lars capping his career with a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national title and being voted outstanding wrestler of the tournament in 2000.

Since taking the helm of the high school program in 2000, the brothers have compiled an enviable record.  Blomgren-led teams have placed in the top 10 at state nine times in the last 14 years. They have won the league and district titles seven of the last 14 years and have been runners-up the other seven. Under their guidance, Vashon has seen 14 individual state champions.

Wrestling is an unusually tough and demanding sport, and most participants will agree that wrestlers are a little “off.” The Blomgrens embrace the unique and the unusual, and that has become a trademark of the team.  The demanding workouts are legendary. The warm-up has sent more than one stout athlete to the retching bucket in the corner.  Practice itself is fairly straightforward, but if the warm-up doesn’t kill you, the cool-down may.

Odd and often bordering on the slightly bizarre annual activities such as mustache-growing competitions, the always-entertaining mid-season banquet, locker room runs and hotdogs riding on unicorns are just part of regular season shenanigans. All serve to keep the athletes engaged, entertained and inspired.

“Even if I sucked at wrestling, I would still do it just to be with the coaches,” one current wrestler said.

Both Blomgrens are teachers on Vashon, Anders at the high school and Per Lars at the middle school. They care deeply about the personal growth and success for each member of the team and put in countless hours helping each grappler reach his full potential both on and off the mat. That time and commitment pays dividends when the team needs it.

With a small turnout this year, Vashon has been hit with untimely illness and injuries that have taken up to six out at a time. But the team has found a way to remain resilient. As of the last ranking on Dec. 26, Vashon is eighth in the state with eight wrestlers being individually ranked by Washington Wrestling Report.

The next and final home action for the team is Thursday against Bellevue Christian and Friday against Klahowya: JV at 6 p.m. with varsity at 7. There will be a senior recognition before the match on Friday.

— Cheryl Pruett is the mother of two  Pirate wrestlers.